the 'scarf' issue takes a good turn

[donsu]

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JB06Ak01.html


Scarves are more than Turkey can bare


Turkey's Islamic-rooted governing party is moving ahead with hotly contested constitutional amendments that would lift the ban on headscarves at universities. Opponents see it as a danger-laden step undermining the currently rigid secular regime by introducing Islamic principles that may extend far beyond higher learning.

Critics of the government express the fear that Turkey, while aspiring for full European Union membership, may actually slide into a restrictive, religious society. On the other hand, advocates of lifting the ban see it as a step towards freedom of expression of the kind Western universities enjoy.

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), with its leaders originally from an Islamic party that was banned, have linked up with the Nationalists Movement Party to make the amendments lifting the ban. The two parties have enough votes to do so - 410 - while 367 are required. The bill is already in a parliamentary commission on fast-track motion. It could be adopted within 10 days.

-snip-

The proposed changes would lift restrictions only on what Turks call the basortusu, a small headscarf worn by millions of women across the country of 70 million. It would not apply to a headscarf like a turban, considered a symbol of Islamic fundamentalism. Most wives of AKP members wear the "turban".

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, once a firebrand member of an Islamic party and now heading a party and government on a platform of conservatism, had promised the party's devout Muslim powerbase it would lift the ban. He said the changes are aimed only at ending discrimination against female students at universities, and restoring their rights to university education.
-snip-
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remember when catholic nuns wore wimples? such strangeness.

got to hide the female body, show only the face. religious men are such dolts.

I'm glad some Turkish women can have freedom of choice and not have to abide by the whim of religiously insane men.

[sam sarrha]

1. will they wear it cause they want or because they are forced by family, does it matter

[donsu]

2. in men's war against women - it matters

nt